Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has criticised the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for inviting former Liberian President George Weah to speak at its annual conference.
Falana accused Weah’s administration of undermining judicial independence in Liberia and questioned the decision to give him a platform to address Nigerian lawyers on democracy and the rule of law.
The senior lawyer spoke in a video published on the NBA’s YouTube channel on Monday, a day after Weah delivered the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the NBA’s 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Falana said the NBA should reconsider inviting African leaders whom he described as dictators to address its conferences.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I’m delighted to be here. But let me say this, because you know I have to be frank with the audience. And this goes for the leadership of the Bar. I want to appeal that the Bar Association must stop—stop inviting dictators in Africa to come and address us,” he said.
He alleged that during Weah’s presidency between 2018 and 2024, Liberia’s judiciary was compromised to such an extent that citizens had to seek justice through the ECOWAS Court.
“Mr. Weah, George Weah, who was here yesterday and was talking about the judiciary: in his country, his regime captured the judiciary to the extent that they had to contact some of us outside the country to get legal redress in the ECOWAS Court,” he said.
Falana cited the case involving the Mandingo people of Liberia, whose landed properties were allegedly confiscated during the country’s civil war.
According to him, although the ECOWAS Court ruled in favour of the affected people, Weah’s administration failed to enforce the judgment.
“The ECOWAS Court gave them judgment. George Weah refused to comply with the judgment. The new government of Boakai has just set up a committee for the enforcement of that judgment,” he said.
He also mentioned the case of an associate justice of Liberia’s Supreme Court, who he claimed was removed from office without justification.
“Again, we went to the ECOWAS Court. The ECOWAS Court set aside his dismissal and awarded him $200,000. He was ordered to be reinstated. Mr. George Weah refused to comply with the judgment,” he said.
Falana consequently questioned the rationale behind inviting the former Liberian leader to speak to Nigerian lawyers about democratic governance and the rule of law.
“Now, that is the man coming here to talk to us about the rule of law and democracy,” Falana said.
The SAN further alleged that Weah’s government failed to curb drug trafficking in Liberia.
“He ruled Liberia between 2018 and 2024. During his time, drug barons took over the country. Just on the 19th of August, his Vice President, Madam Edith, was arrested… on the 19th of August. She’s currently standing trial for drug trafficking to the tune of $370 million in that poor country.
“So when you now have such a character… You know, during the last World Cup in Qatar, his son, Timothee, was playing for the United States of America, not for Liberia.
“This man left his country for nine days, took the money of that country to go and cheer his son in Qatar. So please, next time you want to invite African leaders, there are some of them that require inviting.”
Falana said the NBA should instead consider inviting leaders he believes have demonstrated stronger commitments to democracy and good governance. He specifically mentioned Namibia’s female president, vice president and speaker, as well as the late former Premier of Western Nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo.
Meanwhile, Weah used his keynote address at the conference to urge members of the legal profession to remain impartial while administering justice.
The former Liberian president stressed that nations require an independent judiciary backed by a fearless legal profession.
He also argued that democracy is subjected to daily tests and cannot be sustained by “strong men” but by strong institutions.
Weah warned that governments that present themselves as democratic while engaging in corruption, colluding with judges and weakening the rule of law pose a serious danger to democratic governance.
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who declared the conference open on Sunday, similarly called for a strong and independent judiciary.
Fubara urged judges to remain courageous and committed to truth, regardless of the social standing or affiliations of those appearing before them.
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